Truist Financial Corp Decreases Stake in Pfizer Inc. $PFE

Key Points

• Truist cut its Pfizer stake by 16.3% in Q4, selling 467,441 shares and leaving 2,403,874 shares valued at about $59.86 million per its latest SEC filing.
• Pfizer declared a $0.43 quarterly dividend (annualized $1.72) with a 6.5% yield; the ex-dividend date is May 8 and the payout is scheduled for June 12, though the payout ratio is high at 126.47%.
• Pfizer beat Q4 estimates (EPS $0.66 vs $0.57; revenue $17.56B vs $16.93B) but analyst sentiment is mixed with a consensus rating of Hold and a $28.74 target, even as positive catalysts like FDA approval for VEPPANU support upside potential.

Truist Financial Corp lowered its holdings in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Free Report) by 16.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,403,874 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock after selling 467,441 shares during the period. Truist Financial Corp's holdings in Pfizer were worth $59,856,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Bellecapital International Ltd. boosted its position in Pfizer by 14.2% in the fourth quarter. Bellecapital International Ltd. now owns 241,175 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $6,005,000 after purchasing an additional 29,924 shares during the last quarter. Altrius Capital Management Inc boosted its position in Pfizer by 1.8% in the fourth quarter. Altrius Capital Management Inc now owns 196,974 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $4,905,000 after purchasing an additional 3,454 shares during the last quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC boosted its position in Pfizer by 13.3% in the fourth quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC now owns 23,684 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $590,000 after purchasing an additional 2,783 shares during the last quarter. Long Run Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Pfizer by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Long Run Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 69,160 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $1,722,000 after buying an additional 764 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Estate Counselors LLC increased its holdings in Pfizer by 50.0% during the fourth quarter. Estate Counselors LLC now owns 15,000 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $374,000 after buying an additional 5,000 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.36% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently issued reports on PFE shares. BMO Capital Markets restated an "outperform" rating and set a $30.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a report on Monday, March 9th. CICC Research started coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Thursday, April 16th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $33.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, April 10th. Barclays initiated coverage on Pfizer in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. They issued an "underweight" rating and a $25.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group downgraded Pfizer from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $27.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Pfizer presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $28.74.

Pfizer Trading Down 0.1%

Shares of PFE opened at $26.31 on Tuesday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $27.17 and a 200 day moving average of $26.11. Pfizer Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $21.97 and a fifty-two week high of $28.75. The firm has a market cap of $149.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.35 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 1.16.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.66 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $17.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $16.93 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 12.42% and a return on equity of 20.48%. Pfizer's revenue was down 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.63 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.99 EPS for the current year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 12th. Investors of record on Friday, May 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 8th. Pfizer's dividend payout ratio is presently 126.47%.

Key Stories Impacting Pfizer

Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week:

• Positive Sentiment: FDA approval: Pfizer and Arvinas won FDA approval for VEPPANU (vepdegestrant), a first-of-its-kind therapy for ESR1‑mutated advanced breast cancer — a commercial and pipeline catalyst that can expand oncology revenue and investor expectations. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support: Guggenheim reaffirmed a Buy and a $36 price target ahead of Q1, highlighting upcoming pipeline catalysts and raising expectations for revenue and guidance. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts bullish on pipeline: Q1 previews emphasize a robust non‑COVID portfolio and investor focus on obesity and oncology programs — key drivers that could lift guidance and sentiment if management commentary is constructive. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Relative positioning vs. peers: Coverage argues Pfizer is a post‑COVID winner versus Moderna thanks to diversification and a push into obesity drugs — narrative supports defensive, income‑oriented investor interest. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Dividend/income focus: Several pieces highlight Pfizer’s attractive yield and option strategies for income generation ahead of earnings — this sustains interest from income investors but raises sensitivity to dividend safety and payout guidance. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Q1 earnings watch: Preview and “what to look for” pieces flag EPS/revenue estimates, obesity program updates and guidance commentary as the immediate drivers; results/guidance will likely dictate short‑term direction. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Macro headwind: Major indexes dipped amid rising oil and geopolitical tension — broader market weakness can pressure cyclicals and large caps like Pfizer even if company‑specific news is positive. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Media skepticism on yield/valuation: Commentators including Jim Cramer warned that Pfizer’s yield isn’t compelling enough relative to bonds and questioned upside, which can deter income/value buyers. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation/long‑term skepticism: Opinion pieces label the stock “priced like dead money,” underscoring investor concern about limited capital‑gains potential despite high yield — a headwind for growth‑oriented flows. Read More.

Pfizer Profile

Pfizer Inc NYSE: PFE is a multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1849 by Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, the company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and vaccines for human health. Its activities span discovery research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing and global commercial distribution across multiple therapeutic areas.

Pfizer's portfolio and pipeline cover oncology, immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, rare diseases, hospital acute care and anti-infectives, along with a substantial vaccine business.

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